Concealed drawer for tables



Aug. 28, 1951 c. FREDERICK 2,565,845

CONCEALED DRAWER FOR TABLES Filed Nov. 4, 1946 FlG.l.

k i i l 3 v--/// N I Fl 6'2 b "c; II B R I 3 i INVENTOR. CARL FREDERICK ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1951 warren STATES rArENT OFFICE 2,565,845 CONCEALED DRAWER FOR TABLES Carl Frederick, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 4, 1946, Serial No. 707,627

2 Claims.

The invention relates to concealed drawers for tables and it is the object of the invention to obtain a construction in which the table has an unbroken rail or depending skirt which, nevertheless, permits of concealing a drawer therewithin capable of being drawn outward therebeyond. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a table of my improved construction showing the drawer drawn outward therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the drawer in concealed position; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 33, Fig.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line =-5, Fig. l.

The table A may be of any suitable construction provided with depending side rails B which are continuous and may, if desired, be highly finished. C is a drawer normally stored beneath the table top within the space enclosed by the side rails B and completely concealed thereby. The drawer is supported by hangers or brackets D, which is turn engage runways E secured on the inside of opposite side rails and along which said hangers travel when the drawer is either withdrawn or replaced.

In order that the drawer may be withdrawn without interference with the side rails or skirt B, the hangers are attached to the inner portion of said drawer but are spaced sufiiciently from each other to afford proper support. The front end C of the drawer (in the direction in which the latter is withdrawn) is in stored position spaced from the corresponding side rail 13' of the table. Also, the runways E are provided with parallel inclined portions E, E down which the hangers travel during the initial outward movement of the drawer. The proportions are such that the drawer will be dropped a sufficient distance to clear the lower edge of the rail B during a longitudinal travel equal to the space between the front C and said rail. Consequently, during the further withdrawal of the drawer it will pass freely beneath said rail and outward a sufficient distance beyond the same to provide access to the contents. The runways E have in addition to the inclined portions E horizontal portions E which extend to the rail B. These runways may be formed of channel bars which, considering the rail B as the front of the table, are mounted on side rails B They may, however, be spaced sufficiently inward from said side rails to avoid interference with the table legs F. To retain the drawer in stored position, the runways E have at their rear ends a slightly depressed portion E with a hump E between the same and the inclined portions E and E The hump is not, however, of sufficient height to interfere seriously with the passage of the hanger thereover.

While the hanger D may be of any suitable construction, I have specifically shown, and provided with ball bearing wheels, G which greatly reduces the friction during travel along the runways E.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the runways are suspended from the table top instead of being secured to a side rail thereof. These runways are also formed of fiat bars instead of channel bars. As illustrated, the runway G10 has a portion G at its rear end which is secured to the underside of the table top. A portion G extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, a hump portion G an inclined portion G a horizontal portion G terminating in a return bent portion G and a portion G' extending upward therefrom and secured to the underside of the table top by a portion G The runway H is similarly formed. However, to avoid interference between the two runways, which are in the same plane, the portion G" of the runway G is laterally offset, as indicated at G to clear the inclined portion H of the runway H. The hangers I are formed of plates secured to the side of the drawer C and having at their upper ends rollers J which are flanged to embrace the runway bars. This construction is exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture and will serve the same purpose as the construction previously described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a table having a top and an imperforate rail or skirt depending therefrom, of a drawer normally stored beneath said top and concealed by said rail, the forward end of said drawer in its stored position being spaced from said rail, hangers for supporting said drawer secured to the rear portion thereof in spaced relation, rollers on said hangers and runways for said rollers each being formed of a bar having portions at its opposite ends secured to and depending from said table top, intermediate portion including an inclined portion and a horizontal extending portion, the depending portion of one runway being offset to clear the inclined portion of another runway.

2. The combination with a table having a top and an imperforate rail or skirt depending therefrom, of a drawer normally stored beneath said top'and concealed by said rail, the forward end of said drawer in its stored position being spaced from said rail, hangers for supporting said drawer secured to the rear portion thereof in spaced relation, rollers on said hangers and runways for said rollers each being formed of a bar having portions at its opposite ends secured to and depending from said table top, intermediate portion including an inclined portion and a horizontal extending portion, the depending portion of one runway being offset to clear the inclined portion of another runway, and humps in said runways adjacent to the upper ends of the inclined portions thereof for holding said drawer in closed position.

CARL FREDERICK.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,116 Burns Dec. 7, 1897 641,212 Lippincott Jan. 9, 1900 2,069,707 Herman Feb. 2, 1937 10 2,181,406 Madden Nov. 28, 1939 2,369,069 Mowat Feb. 6, 1945 2,471,245 Shoenberg May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 44,907 Sweden Jan. 8, 1919 

